Travelogue-Incheon Day 1, Chinatown

So, after a much unanticipated walk, I reached Incheon Station. As with many Chinatowns, there are gates to mark the entrances.  In the city there is a small one on Grant.  But other places Ive been to usually have one or more larger gats such as this.  Yokohama, Philly, Chicago, etc

The firs thing is a hill.  Oh joy, wanted I wanted after having already walked all the way here.  A bfief respite before tackling the hill. 

At the top of the hill and around the corner is another hill but with steps.  At the top is another gate.  It was blue.  Restaurants line both sides of the stairs.  As with much of the streets, there are abundant places to eat with a few other retail shops scattered about. 

I only climbed the stairs because I thought there would be a nice view from up here

Speaking of restaurants, it was getting close to 2pm and I was hbungry.  One favorite chinese dish of koreans is black bean suace noodles, jajangmyun.  I stopped into a restaurant at randome and ordered a dish.  You have to mix the sauce and noodles.  Often I find it hard to eat the vegetables in the suace and noodles at the same time with chopsticks.  Before Im done, Im left with a bowl of black sauce with chunky bits which are sstill hard to eat with chopsticks

In addition, I ordered some fired dumplings, mandu.  After lunch, there werent a whole lot of other things that kept my attention in Chinatown.  There was a mural of the Three Kingdoms.  I saw it from afar but it did not inspire me to take a closer look. 

Thats it for this trip.  As with most trips, time flies once you approach the end of it.  It wasnt too long ago that I flew oujt and now Im flaying back very soon.  Even though there have been a few frustating moments, its a part of the experience and sometimes a learning moment for the next time

Travelogue-Incheon Day 1, Wolmi

This morning, I woke up and looked out the windows. I knew I was close because it did not take the taxi driver long. There were several turns that threw me off

I opted to take the ferry as my preferred way of getting to the mainland.  Not knowing the bus route, I knew to get the bus back at the airport.  As it turns out Bus 202 had a stop around the curner from the hotel.  Along the way, I noticed the bus driver had a certain disregard for the red lights.  Most drivers in Incheon, it seems, treat red lights like flashing reds if they stopped at all.  Anyway, it took about 30 min to get to the ferry terminal.  It accommodates a number of cars but none were presnt on this ride which also took another 30 min

Off in the distance is Incheon Bridge.  There is another one that connec Yeonjong to the mainland.  There are several ships anchored and chugging about in the harbor

We are about to make land and the crew ready the platform for disembarkment at Wolmi.

Womi is a little seaside resort like Santa Cruz, CA or Seqside Heights, NJ.  There are rides and aracades and such.  The most prevalent businesses were the sseafood restaurants.  Many offered sliced raw fish and others had seafood stews including ingredients of all types.  Like many places that I have gone to on this trip, the crowds are sparse to none.  Granted, it still feels like winter and that tends to keep alot of prospective visitors away.

It didnt really take much time to look around.  Their "Culture Street" was a joke and not what it was hyped up to be.  Plus, in the previous picture, you can see the rail of a mnorail.  I was planning on going to the Chinatown near Incheon Station.  The monorails's terminus was nearby so it was the clear option since I didnt know the routes of the local buses.  Well, as luck would have it, it was either not running or has not started service at all.  The only thing the rail was good for was to guide me out of Wolmi.  It was a long walk to my next destination.  It was one that I did not expect, enjoy, or welcomed.

Travelogue-Some numbers for you to chew on

So, I noticed this over the last few days.  I arrive in Incheon the first time on the 10th.  When I arrived in Narita, I reserved a seat on the 3:10pm train heading to Shinagawa.  I was assigned seat 10D.  The Toyoko Inn gave me room 1010.  Here at the Best Western, I got room 1011.  Curious how 10 keeps popping up.  and, these are just the ones that I noticed.

Travelogue-Tokyo Departure/Incheon arrival

Todaym I only have a few hours before my flight to Incheon.  It started noff very bright today.  I guess my timing is off when it comes to the weather.  The only place that I haven't gone back to is Shibuya.  I got there around 10 in the morning on a Monday.  Everything was surprisingly quiet.  I expected more people from past experiences

I went by a conveyor belt, kaitne, sushi placde that was recommended on the first trip.  In the last 11 years, the price has only gone up 10yen.  I just wish the exchange could have been just as good.  On that first trip, the exchange was around 130yen to the dollar.  This time, it was at 80yen to the dollar

There were the usual people there.  Deliverymen, officeworkers, and some students milling about but not in the quantity nor energy that I have become accustomed to.  I stopped into a few arcades to see if there were any prizes worth trying for in the UFO cdatcher machines.  There were none

As mentioned in a previous post, there was this restaurant.  This ,location boasts 3 floors and its open 24 hours a day.  I dont know if these places just started popping up or I just have not noticed them before.  I noticed that there were 4 branches within a 2 block area

The flight took off as scheduled and I landed after 9:30 in the evening.  By the time I got through customs and luggag3e pick-up it was already 10:30pm.  I booked a room at the Best Wesgern Premire Incheon Airport.  Unfortunately, their shuttle stops serv ice at 9:30pm.  Their location is close enough that it was only a 3000won taxi fare.  At that time of night, I did not want to be walking around trying to find transport.  The lady at the information desk suggested taking a shuttle to the Hyatt which was close to the BW, but I would have to walk maybe half a mile in the dark?!?!?

Travelogue-Tokyo Day 3, Kin No Kura Jr

I came back to review this izakaya place that had been seen on a japanese television show.  I found a previous location in Akihabara but noticed that they were also in this building near the UDX.  I went up to the 6th floor and asked for a table.  I  could easily see there was a table near the entrance that could accomodate one.  For some reason I was told 2 hours.  I dont know if it meant the wait or I could only stay that long  Either way, I went to the first location

It wasnt full and I was seated promptly.  This place has tablets on the table where yo9u can order your drinks and food.  Most items are 720yen while a few are 384yen.  There is also an option for ordering in english.  The menu is small for both drinks and food

Available drinks include beers, wine cocktails, and soft drinks.  I opted for the pineapple sour with fruit.  The juice tastede artificial but was served very quickly  the edamame were complimentary

My first order was what I was hoping would be gyoza.  Not quite but in the same fane and fried.  It was decent enough, nothing special

As I mentioned, the drinks come out quick while the food is another matter.  While waiting for my second order, I requested a peach sour with fruit.  They have some sours with just juice or Calpis

The takoyaki was not very good.  I would have preffered the frozen ones that I microwave myself.  As I said, the menu is a bit more limited than I expected and was hoping to order other things

I did order one thing of their premium menu,  the one where items are 384yen.  This is beef rib meat on shave onions and topped with green onions on a sizzling plate.  It was average once again.  The meat was a bit on the chewy side and the sauce a bit sweet

Lastly, I thought I ordered spicey wings.  I got wings but they were just fried and not spicey.  All in all, the food is average and the place is not really worth seeking out for.  I dont know if 270yen for a beer is a good price. nIf so, it has that going for them